Combination lock



July 26, 1949. G. T. HOSKING 1 COMBINATION LOCK Filed Nov. 17, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 v vow-n for,

Patented July 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION LOCK- George T. Hosking, Jamaica Plain, Boston, Mass. Application November 17, 1947, Serial No. 786,465

2 Claims. 1

This invention is a combination lock of that type wherein the locking functions of a latch or bolt are controlled by rotatable elements a rranged to be adjusted to predetermined relative positions. The invention has particular reference to the structure disclosed in my patent of the United States No. 2,003,650, dated June 4,

The present development pertains particularly to the manner in which the slide bar, which carries the bolt. cooperates with the rotatable member in both locking and unlocking positions, as well. as the manner in which the operating stems coact r interlockingly engage with the rotatable member to either move the latter to locking or unlocking position, as well as to vary the combination for operating the lock.

The present invention provides improved and simplified means for bringing about the same results as those obtained-b my aforementioned patent, the present development residin in the simplified construction and arrangement of the improved parts as well as affiording a greater variety the combinations obtainable in the permutation mechanism.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with. others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing Fig. .1 is a, plan view of a combination lock constructed. accordance with the invention and illustrating the same as applied as a locking means for a trunk, satchel, travelling bag or similar closure,

1 Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the cover plate removed and illustratin the lock bolt or slide in retracted position,

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 with the slide projected to locking position, j

Fig. 4. is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken. through the lock casing and showing the parts in the position they will assume with the bar-or boltmember retracted,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and showing the parts in the position theywill assume with the slide bar or bolt in projected or lockingposition,

Fig. 6 isa transverse sectional view taken substantially upon-line 6-6 of Fig; 5, and

Fig.- l is a view similar toFig'. 6 and illustrating a; modified form ofthe invention.

Referring now more particularly to thdrawings, it represents the housing or casing to contain. the .lnck mechanism the saidhousing being preferably of shallow thickness and of rectangular form, open at the top and having flanges 9 able members I0.

. 2 upon its longitudinal edges to receive the edges of a cover plate 9' to close the casing.

Rotatably mounted in the bottom of the casing or housing 8 in the median lin thereof and in spaced relationship to one another are rotat- These members are in fixed position within the casing but are mounted for free rotation therein, as stated. In the present instance, these members take the form of pinions having teeth I I, as shown.

Slidabl mounted within the casing .is a bar or plate l2, the latter being preferably equal to the width of th casing and abutting the sides thereof as shown in Figs. 2, 3, G and. 7.. This plate is mounted so as to slide longitudinally of the housin or casing 8. The plate is provided at one end with an outwardly projecting portion constituting a bolt l3 to extend through an opening l4 in the outer end of the housing when the plate has been moved to projected or locking po-v sition. This bolt is to cooperate with a keeper member l5 of the element to be locked for interlocking engagement therewith, :as will be readily understood. The slide bar or plate I2 is provided with openings l6 disposed in spaced relationship to one another and of. sufficient length and breadth to accommodate the rotatable members ill and to permit substantial sliding movement of the plate with respect to the said elements or members. Projecting into said openings from the forward ends thereof are lugs ll of less thickness than the thicknesses of the rotatable members or pinions l0, adapted to slide and to interfit within substantial shallow recesses IS in the peripheries of the said rotatable members or pinions 10 when the slide bar or plate 12 is in retracted or unlocking position and when thesaid rotatable pinions I 0 are so positioned that the recesses l8 arealigned with the said lugs. The depths of the recesses I8 will be such that whenthe lugs I! have extended to their full depth within the said recesses, the plate [2 will have been moved a distance sufiicient to withdrawor retract the bolt 13 from looking engagement with its cooperating element 15'.

Mountedconcentrically with each of the rotatable members or pim'ons til, are operating shaftslS. In the present instance, these shafts extend within openings centrally provided in the pin-ions 1| El, and are disposed transversely of the casing or housing. The shafts extend through the cover plate 9 and are provided on their outer ends with operating knobs 20 and pointers or indicators 2! to travel around'dials upon the outer face of the cover p'late 9' as shown particularly. in Fig. 1'. rotating independently of the pin'ions at times and interlock therewith at other times.

Rigidly secured to each of the shafts l9 and directly above the pinions III are selector plates These shafts P9 are capable of 22, each of which is provided with a plurality of detents 23 adapted to engage and interlock with the teeth of the pinions l 0. An expansion spring 24 encircles each .of said shafts l9 and is interposed between the cover plate and the selector disk to normally hold the selector disks with their detents 23 engaged between the teeth of the pin ions. When so positioned, as will normally be the case, rotation of the shafts by manipulation of the knobs 20 will cause the pinions ID to rotate therewith.

The slide plate i2 is provided in the median line thereof with a pair of spaced upstanding locking elements 25 which, when the slide bar or plate I2 is in projected or locking position, will overlie the selector disks 22 to prevent the latter becoming disengaged from their respective pinions I and to insure interlocking of these parts together. This operation is clearly shown in Fig. 5. The locking elements 25 are so positioned, however, that when the plate i2 is in retracted 0r bolt-released position, they will be removed from above the selector disks 22 so that the latter may be disengagedfrom their underlying pinions Ill upon upward movement being applied to the shafts l9 against the tension of spring 24. This is clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Sliding movements of the slide plate l2 are governed by the knob 26 affixed to the upper end of shaft or post 21 secured to the plate l2 and passing through a slot 28 in the cover plate 9'.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the combinations necessary for proper actuation of the lock may be set as desired with the assurance that this combination is impossible of being changed when the lock bolt is in locked or operative position. In the present instance, the stems or shafts I!) have been set so that the underlying pinions l0 will be'positioned with their recesses I8 in lug receiving position when the pointers or indicators 21 are on the numerals 3-3 of the housing. As so positioned, the slide plate l0 may be freely reciprocated, either to looking or unlocking positions. This is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. With the slide plate moved forwardly or to projecting or looking position, rotary movement applied to either or both of the knobs 28 will move the recesses l8 out of longitudinal alignment with the lugs ll, whereupon any movement of the plate l2 rearwardly or to unlocking position will be resisted by engagement of either or both lugs IT with the peripheries of the teeth H of the pinions l0. Movement of the slide plate 52, therefore, will be prevented until both shafts 19 have been rotated to such position as to dispose the recesses l8 in the pinions ID in longitudinal and cooperative alignment with the lugs l1.

When it is desired to change the combination, the plate 52 is moved to retracted position with the lugs l1 engaged within the recesses l8 and the locking elements 25 moved rearwardly to the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 4. When so positioned, upward sliding movement applied to either or both of the shafts l9, against the tension of springs 24, will lift plates 22 sufficiently to withdraw detents 23 from engagement with the teeth H of the pinion ill. Rotary movement to the shaft when so elevated will move the detents 23 to different positions and release of the knobs 20 to the tension of springs 24 will force the disks 22 downwardly so that the detents 23 will engage between the new selected teeth of pin- '4 ion Ill. The number of different combinations possible will be determined by the number of teeth in the pinions I0, and this number may be varied as desired.

In instances where a push action of the shaft I9 is desired for bringing about a combination change, the parts will be somewhat reversed as shown in Fig. '7. In this figure, the shaft I9 is mounted in the casing in reversed position, and the spring 24 is interposed between the disk 22 and the top plate 9' of the housing. The slide operating knob 26 is also shown in reversed position in order that a sliding movement of the plate [2 may be effected. In this modified form of the invention, the pointer or indicating elements 2| are omitted, and a pointer or indicator 2| is shown as forming a permanent part of the knob 20 of this modified construction.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a lock structure for controlling the sliding movement of a locking plate which embodies all the advantages of the structure shown in my former patent but in addition thereto simplifies the construction of the look as well as its operation. The look here disclosed embodies the simplified form of lock structure merely for controlling or governing the sliding movements of a plate. This plate may be utilized as a looking bol-t for any type of closure to which it may be applied, or may be utilized for such purposes as are suggested in my former patent. The present illustration is of a lock showing a pair of operating shafts, but it will be understood that a single shaft may be used in a simpler form of lock, or additional shafts may be provided if desired.

I claim:

1. In a look, a casing, a pinion rotatably mounted in said casing, a slide bar in said casing, a lug on said bar projecting toward said pinion, said pinion having a recess in its periphery to receive said lug when said pinion is in a predetermined position, a shaft rotatable in said casing and concentric with said pinion, a disk secured to said shaft, a detent on said disk for locking engagement with a tooth of said pinion, and a spring yieldably holding said disk with its detent engaged with said pinion.

2. In a lock, a casing, a pinion rotatably mounted in said leasing, a slide bar in said casing having an openingto receive said pinion, a lug on said bar, said pinion having a recess in its periphery adapted to receive said lug when said pinion is in a predetermined position, a shaft rotatable in said casing and concentric with said pinion, a disk carried by said shaft, a detent on said disk for interlocking engagement with a tooth of said pinion, and a spring surrounding said shaft and yieldably maintaining said disk with its detent interlocked with a tooth of said pinion. I

GEORGE T. HOSKING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hoskin-g June 4, 1935 

